That’s a big price to pay for a 35-year-old first baseman coming off a 774 OPS and thumb surgery, but it’s right in line with the market value. Remember, Lance Berkman received $8 million from the Cardinals and the Cubs are paying Carlos Pena $10 million, though some of the money is deferred.

As Aaron pointed out yesterday and Buster Olney of ESPN.com wrote this morning, committing only one year to Lee gives the Orioles the ability to be flexible going into next winter, when Prince Fielder will be a free agent.

Don’t forget that Pujols hasn’t signed an extension yet, so he could theoretically reach FA next year as well. And very technically Gonzalez hasn’t signed an extension either, but now we’re getting quite theoretical.

I doubt very seriously Pujols is going anywhere next year. If the Cardinals fail to sign him to extension they will have thrown away all that money they gave Halliday. Wasn’t the idea to keep Pujols and Halliday together for years to compliment each other in the line up and hopefully get the Cardinals to the post season for years to come.